Latch construction



Sept. 26, 1944. w. PEGLOW LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 1941' s She ets-Sheet 1 FIG- INVENTOR ITN SES:

Sept. 26, 1944. w. PEGLOW 2,359,150

7 LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5-

H n I I INVENTOR BY ATTOREEX WITNESSES:

Sept. 26, 1944. w. PEGLQW 2,359,150

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Filed July 10, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1 I g i a in" 5 :Ur 8/ FIG- 6. '18

I E SE5 WALTEk f gioW BY M ATTOR EY Patented Sept. 26,

LATCH CONSTRUCTION Walter Fellow, Mansfield, omo, assimor to wa inghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania v App ication July 10, 1941, Serial No. 401,696 6Claims. Y (on. zap-33s) This invention relates to a door latch and more especially tor.

' One object of the invention is to provide a door latch mechanism adapted to extend through an opening in awall and seal said opening.

Another object of the invention is to provide a latch-operating lever which extends through and effects a sealing engagement with a wall, which lever is adapted to move in a plurality of directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an operating linkage for a door latch, which linkage is responsive to a plurality of movements of an operating lever.

These and other objects are effected by my invention as will be apparent from the following description and claims taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a domestic refrigerator cabinet embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line IIII of Fi 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the mechanism of Fig. 1, but with the latch held in the retracted position and the trigger about to strike the latch keeper;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the latch keeper and of the latch and the trigger showing their relative position when the door is closed;

Fig. 5 is a. rear view of the latch mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but with the lever tilted to retract the latch; and,

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line VIIL-VIH of Fig. 6.

The structural features of the latch described in this application are also shown in the application of Martin G. Sateren, Serial No. 360,537, filed October 10, 1940,. and assigned to the assignee of this invention.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the reference numeral 20 designates a refrigerator cabinet having a door 2| comprising an inner panel 22 and a metal outer shell 23 with turned edges 24. The edges of the inner panel 22 and the edges 24 of the outer shell 23 are joined together with screws 25 which also engage a sealing. gasket 26 in place at the edges of the door 2|.. The door.2| is hinged adjacent a vertical edge of the refrigerator cabinet on to a door latch for a refrigerahinges 21. The outer shell 23, together with the gasket 26 forms a vapor-tight structure to prevent air and the water vapor carried by it from entering the door structurewhen the .door 2| is closed. If water vapor were permitted to enter the door structure when it would condense on the cold surfaces of. the inner structure of the door and the resulting moisture would cause rapid deterioration of these structures.

A trigger latch mechanism 29 is provided adjacent the edge of the door 2| opposite the hinges 21, and a latch keeper 3| is secured to the ,front face of the cabinet 20. The trigger latch mechanism 29 comprises a sheet metal casing 32 located between the inner panel panel 23 of the door 2|. The casing 32 has two outwardly-turned lugs 33 which are fastened by flush-headed bolts 34 to the edges 24 of the outer shell 23. Three pins 35, 36, and 31 are secured in the side walls of the casing 32 and span the interior thereof.

A latch member 38 comprising two spacedapart and approximr tely [V-shaped plates 39 is pivoted at one extremity of the legs of the plates 39 on the pin 36. The plates 39 are held in spaced relationship by a pin 4| and a second pin 42, which forms a bearing for a roller 43 located between the plates 39. Lugs 44 are formed on the latch 38 and. a lug 45 is formed. on the casing 32, which lugs 44 and 45, respectively, engage the ends of a, compression spring 46 which biases the latch 38 for counterclockwise rotation, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3.

A trigger 48 is pivoted on the pin 35 in the casing 32 and comprisesa rectangular framelike metal stamping, two opposite sides 49 of which are bent at right angles to the other two sides 50 and 5|. The trigger 48 straddles the latch 38 and extends between the latch 38 and the casing 32. The two sides 49 of the trigger frame 48 are notched to provide shoulders 52 which engage two lugs 53 cut from the side plates 38 of the latch 38 and bent outwardly to lie at right angles thereto. The trigger 48 is biased by a coil spring 54 on the pin 35 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. The lugs 53 and the shoulders that when the latch 38 is moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, the shoulders 52 will eng e the lugs 53 ,on the latch 38 and hold the same against the bias of the compression spring 46.

The latch keeper 3| projects from the front edge of the cabinet, and an opening 56 is provided in the inner panel 22 of the door 2| adjacent the latch 38, which opening 56 receives the door 2| is closed,

22 and the outer 52 are so arranged the latch'keeper 6| when the door is closed. The portion of the keeper 6| which enters the opening 66 comprises a surface 61 slightly inclined to the front surface of the cabinet 26. The roller 66 engages the surface 61 of the keeper 3| when the door 2| is closed, and is forced along said surface by the compression spring 66 to bias the door 2| and its sealing gasket 26 into close engagement with the front surface of the cabinet 26, thereby slightly compressing the gasket 26.

The side 6| of the trigger 66 lies near the roller 66 when the latch 36 is retained by the trigger 66 in the retracted position. When the door 2| approaches its closed position on closing, the side strikes the latch keeper 3|, moves the trigger 66 in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, and releases the latch 36 when the roller 66 is near the inclined surface '61 for engagement therewith.

The lever 56 is secured to the door 2| by a sleeve or bushing 6| which projects through an opening 62 inthe outer shell 23 of the door 2|. The sleeve 6| is attached to the outer shell 23 by a flange 63 overlying the outer surface of the shell 23 and by a cupped plate 66 on the inner side of the door shell 23, which plate 66 is fastened to the flange 63 by a screw 65 engaging a lug 66 on the flange 63 of the sleeve 6|. The lug 66 projects through a second opening 61 in the-outer shell 23. The sleeve 6| has a central horizontal bore 66, a concave spherical socket 69 at the inner opening of the bore 66, and a convex spherical bulge 1| adjacent the outer opening thereof and concentric with the spherical socket 69. The lever 58 comprises an axis-like pin I2 extending through the bore 66 and a collar 13 which has a concave surface overlying the convex spherical bulge II on the outer surface of the sleeve 6|. The lever 56 normally is in the erect position. The pin 12 projects from the central portion of the collar 13 into the central bor 66 of the sleeve 6|, and a member I6 having a convex spherical surface 15 which cooperates with the concave spherical socket 69 is secured to the end of the pin 12 by a square mortise and tenon joint I6 and a screw 11.

The bore 66 in the sleeve 6| is oblong to provide for downwardly-pivoting action of the pin 12 on the socket 69 but the sides of the oblong bore 68 prevent a. corresponding sidewardly-pivoting action. The lever 56 when pulled forwardly, pivots on the socket 69 and, when moved side wardly, rotates on the axis of the pin I2,

A circular groove is formed on the concave surface of the collar 13 to accommodate a sealing gasket 16 consisting of a synthetic rubber such for example as that known by the trade name neoprene. The sealing gasket 16 is oil-resistant, so that the engagement between the convex bulge 1| and the concave collar 13 may be lubricated to render the engagement vapor-tight and to prevent friction. A second vapor-tight joint is formed between the sleeve 6| and the member 16, the ball and socket engagement between these two members being rendered vaportight by a lubricant. The joints between the flange 63 of the sleeve 6| and the outer shell 23 of the door 2| ar likewise rendered vapor-tight by a suitable sealing compound (not; shown), so that the entire assemblage of the latch mechanism on the outer shell 23 is vapor-tight as regards the passage of vapors through the openings 62 and 61 in the outer shell 23. This is essential in order to Prevent moist air from the exterior of the refrigerator from entering the space between the inner panel 22 and the outer shell 26, the moisture of which air would condense on the cool surfaces in the interior of the door 2|. v

The operative connection between the lever 66 and the latch 66 is as follows: The member 16 comprises an upwardly-extending arm 6| and an inwardly-facing cam 62 on the upper end thereof, which cam 62 straddles a roller 66. The roller 63 is pivoted in a latch-retracting lever 66 at approximately its mid point. The lever 66 is pivoted at one end on the pin 61, and, at its other i counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 2

and 3, and engage the pin 6| to force the latch 36 to pivot on the pin 66 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs.) and 3, thereby disengaging the roller 63 from the latch keeper 3|. Thlsaction is best illustrated by Fig. 7.

It will be apparent from Figs, 3, 5, and 8 that a sideward pull on the lever 66 in either direction depresses the lever 66 in thesame manner as when the lever 56 is pulled forwardly. A sideward pull on the lever 66 rotates the pin 12 on its axis and moves the cam 62 sidewardly so that either of the two inclines .61 of the cam 62 depress the roller 83 which in turn depresses the lever 66.

It will be evident from the above description that this invention provides a door latch mechanism which is adapted to extend through an opening in a wall and seal said opening against the passage of vapors therethrough. The invention further provides an operative connection be.

tween a latch and a lever whereby the latch may be actuated by a plurality of movements of the lever.

- While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims. v v

What I claim is:

1. In a latch mechanism for a door, the combination of a sleeve adapted to extend through a wall .of said door and effect a vapor-tight Joint with said wall, said sleeve having an opening extending therethrough, a concave spherical surface on said sleeve at one end of said opening, a convex spherical surface concentric with said concave spherical surface on said sleeve at the other end of said opening. a pin extending through said opening, a collar on said pin providing a concave spherical surface contiguous with said convex spherical surface of said sleeve,

a knob on said pin providing a convex spherical a vapor-tight seal with the spherical surface contiguous therewith.

2. In a latch mechanism for a door, the comicination of a sleeve adapted to extend through a wall of said door and effect a vapor-tight joint with said wall, said sleeve having an opening extending therethrough, a concave spherical surface on said sleeve at; one end of said opening, a convex spherical surface concentric with said concave spherical surface on said sleeve at the other end of said opening, a pin extending through said opening, a collar on said pin providing a concave spherical surface contiguous with said convex spherical surface of said sleeve, a knob on said pin providing a convex spherical surface contiguous with said concave spherixcal surface of said sleeve, said contiguous surfaces, said pin, and the opening in said sleeve being formed to afford rotation of said pin and tilting thereof in one plane, at least one of said spherical surfaces forming a vapor-tight seal with the spherical surface contiguous therewith.

3. In a latch mechanism for a door, the comhination of a sleeve adapted to extend through a wall of said door and effect a vapor-tight joint with said wall, said sleeve having an opening extending therethrough, a concave spherical surface on said sleeve at one end of said opening, a convex spherical surface concentric with said concave spherical surface on said sleeve at the other end of said opening, a pin extending through said opening, a collar on said pin providing a concave spherical surface contiguous with said convex spherical surface of said sleeve, a knob on said pin providing a convex spherical surface contiguous with said concave spherical surface of said sleeve, said contiguous surfaces, said pin, and the opening in said sleeve being formed to afford rotation of said pin and tilting thereof in one plane, at least one of said spherical surfaces forming a vapor-tight seal circumferentially of said pin with the spherical surface contiguous therewith.

i. In a latch mechanism for a door, the co1nbination of a sleeve adapted to extend through a wall of said door and effect a vapor-tight joint with said wall, said sleeve having an opening extending therethrough, a concave spherical surface on said sleeve at one end of said opening, a convex spherical surface concentric with said concave spherical surface on said sleeve at the other end of said opening, a pin extending through said opening, a collar on said pin providing a concave spherical surface contiguous with said convex spherical surface of said sleeve,

said opening,

use

a knob on said pin providing a convex spherical surface contiguous with said concave spherical surface of said sleeve, said contiguous surfaces, said pin, and the opening in said sleeve being formed to afford rotation of said pin and tilting thereof in one plane, and a ring-shaped gasket atthe concave spherical surface of said collar and contacting the concave spherical surface of said sleeve to provide a vapor-tight seal between said pin and said sleev circumferentially of said pin.

5. In a latch mechanism for a door, the combination of a sleeve adapted to extend through a wall of said door and effect a vapor-tight joint with said wall, said sleeve having an opening extending therethrough, a concave spherical surface on said sleeve at one end of said opening, a convex'spherical surface concentric with said concave spherical surface on said sleeve at the other end of said opening, a pin extending through said opening, a collar on said pin providing a concave spherical surface contiguous with said convex spherical surface of said sleeve, a knob on said pin providing a convex spherical surface contiguous with said concave spherical surface of said sleeve, said contiguous surfaces, said pin, and the opening in said sleeve being formed to afford rotation of said pin and tilting thereof in one plane, and a ring-shaped gasket adjacent one of said spherical surfaces and contacting a spherical surface contiguous thereto circumferentially of said pin to effect a fluid-tight seai therewith.

6. In a latch for a door having inner and outer walls, the combination of a sleeve extend ing through the outer Wall of said door and effecting a vapor-proof joint with said wall, said sleeve having an opening extending there through, a concave spherical surface on said sleeve at one end of said opening, a convex spherical surface concentric with said concave spherical surface on said sleeve at the other end of said opening, a pin extending through a collar on said pin providing a concave spherical surface contiguous with said convex spherical surface of said sleeve, a knob on said pin providing a convex spherical surface contiguous with said concave spherical surface of said sleeve, said contiguous surfaces, said pin, and the opening in said sleeve being formed to permit rotation of said pin and tilting thereof in one plane, at least one of said spherical surfaces forming a vapor-tight seal circumferentially of said pin with the spherical surface cooperating therewith.

WALTER PEGLOW. 

